The Old Assateague Island Hunting Lodges

Known today as a national park, Assateague was once the premier duck hunting destination on the east coast. Many local hunters built lodges, some for profit, but mostly just to enjoy the awesome hunting and to get away from their wives..........one lodge was actually called "The Hen-Pecked Lodge" but was burned down many years ago. I have photographed the remaining buildings which are now sealed. Included are imags of some of the interiors which a previous superintendent gave permission (at my own risk) to photograph. When the island became a National Seashore, owners were paid for their properties and given up to 25 years to continue to use them, this time has long expired and the NPS is just letting them "naturally rot away"...seems a shame to me, but after talking to Carl Zimmerman about them I understand the impracticability of the situation.. But A lot of history lost here. My fishing mentor, Capt. Mac Simpson, now 90 worked at some of these lodges when he was sixteen as a guide. He was kind enough to spend most of one winter hiking to all the clubs and telling me many a story of the "good ole days." Since then I have hiked and explored pretty much of the 12 miles of "Oversand Vehicles" area and re-photographed much as digital cameras have come a long way since 2003...enjoy! P.S. I have attempted to be accurate in my captions but I am not an historian nor claim to be one.....One other thing, the photos are in sort of an order and the captions contain information that was verbaly given to me by folks who actually experienced these wonderful places......,THE CAPTIONS ARE THE GOLD IN THIS GALLERY! The captions,at times, flow into the next image so if you have the time or inclination run through them in order.......allen

As you can see, Green Run was a nice place.....notice the clothing of the avaition club members, they were seriously dressed up! The shine on the pine floor and the white jacketed waiter all add to the coolness of the photograph which I suspect was taken by a professional. Great photo. Enlarge to full size and you can make out some interesting details and facial expressions. The year was 1947. If anyone has any more details about the photo PLEASE add your comment and I will incorporate it in this caption! Bill Hastings oral history of Green Run mentions that many a plane broke its propeller on landing, but it only took a couple hours for one to be flown in by another club member....they kept the broken props inside the lodge for laughs!